Pet ownership has been steadily increasing in the US. It is also increasing in other parts of the world, but when it comes to the pace of growth, the US is far ahead of other countries. With the steady growth of pet ownership in the US, a market has sprung up. The market is already vast and ever increasing. If you are a pet lover, or just want to know how to start a pet blog, read this article till the end as Iāll discuss some very important points related to this booming market and how starting a pet blog can give you access to it.
Reasons for having petsĀ
To understand the market mentioned above, and to know how to start a pet blog, first you need to understand the top reasons people keep pets at home. Companionship is the most common reason. Pets can provide a sense of comfort and also security. Thatās why people who live alone have pets. Pets provide love and affection to them, which can be especially rewarding for people living alone. Another reason is health benefits. Itās been found in studies that interacting with pets can help reduce stress and anxiety. So much so that people with petting animals have been found to have lower blood pressure and heart rate. The company of pets causes the release of endorphins, a chemical with mood-boosting effects.Ā
Once you understand these reasons, you can have an idea of what type of people are consumers of pet related products and services. Want to start a pet blog? Remember, those people will be your readers.
Okay, so you have some knowledge of the ever growing pet market. And you want to participate in that market either as a product/service seller, or as a pet blog owner. What do you need to know next?Ā
Pet related niches
There are two options. The first is, starting a generic pet related blog. And the other one is starting a blog on a specific type of pet. It could be on dogs, cats, mice, or rabbits. Both niches are profitable, but they require different promotional strategies. So, take ample time, and decide what type of blog you want to start. If you go for a specific pet niche blog, decide what kind of pet you want to blog about. Dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, fish? Once you identify your niche, you can start to narrow down your focus even further. For example, if you’re blogging about dogs, you could focus on a specific breed, such as Labrador Retrievers.
Knowledge of pet health
Pets are animals, they are not humans. They cannot communicate like we humans do, meaning their owners would have to figure out whether they are sick or not. As a pet blogger, itās your responsibility to provide your readers information on pet health. Thatās only possible when you yourself have this knowledge. If you do, great. If not, attend pet health workshops and seminars, join online pet health communities, read reliable pet health resources from books, magazines and websites. Consider taking a crash-course on veterinary sciences if you are serious about starting a pet blog.
Knowledge of pet behavior
Just as pet health is important, so is pet behavior. As a pet blogger, you must know how pets behave and how to interpret their behavior. You donāt have to be an expert on this, but you must have enough knowledge to provide your readers with correct data and details. More importantly, there are eccentricities in pet behavior. Some behaviors are so weird that even experts have not yet been able to make sense of them.Ā
Such behaviors include chasing imaginary objects, forgetting training (common with dogs), staring into blank space for a long time, excessive vocalizing, etc. These behaviors sometimes indicate health issues, but not always. You can explain these behaviors in your blog, if possible refer to veterinary experts, so that your readers could get the right information from people who have authority in this area.
Knowledge of pet products
Pet products are of different types. They can be broadly categorized into
- Food and nutrition
- Health and wellbeing
- Litters and waste management
- Accessories
- Electronic gadgets for safety
- Grooming products
You need to be well-informed about the listed categories of products. Each category has several products from several brands. As a pet blog owner, itās your job to guide your readers to buy the right products thatād suit their preferences and also their budgets.Ā
Itās no secret that pet blogs make money by promoting pet products. But you canāt just promote any product. Before doing any kind of promotion or review, you must check the manufacturing ingredients, their safety information, trace of any possible hazardous agents in those products, the market reputation of the associated brands, what other pet owners are buying and what they are sneering at, everything.Ā
Conclusion
So, if you have read this far, I am sure you have not only found the answer to your question of how to start a pet blog, but also what to do afterwards. Use this knowledge to start a pet blog, and give it time to grow. And, let us know how it goes.